The 5th OPER8 webinar focused on cultural controls and mulching solutions. It was a collaboration with the EU-funded GOOD project and the webinar lasted about 1 hour 30 and has been recorded. (see below). Four speakers dived into several alternative weed control for arable crops and vineyards. Over 90 participants from many EU and non-EU countries attended and had the opportunity to ask questions to the expert speakers.
First, a short introduction about OPER8 and GOOD projects by Olga Kriezi and Alexandros Tataridas started the webinar. Then, Matt Smee, from the Organic Research Centre (UK), presented living mulch solutions for arable. Living mulch are semi-permanent legumes understories undersown in cereals and lasting several years, with the second year being the real “mulch year”. It is at the interface between intercropping, undersowing, cover crops, and mulching solutions. Matt gave several research results of living mulch use on nitrogen availability, impact on yield and weed control, and benefits for the soil. He also gave practical implementation explanations.
Results of weed control
Second, Fanny Prezman from the French Wine and Vine Institute (France) presented results of weed control with under vine dead mulch for different kind of biobased mulches, bringing to discussion benefits for the vine and the soil. She provided practical advice on implementation (mulch thickness and width, inter-row area management…). Several mulch materials have been tested such as green waste, miscanthus straw, biobased felt, wood chips, … Results on weed control depend on the mulch durability, with a good weed suppression effect in the first years and variable in the newt years.
Green waste mulch should be refurbished yearly. The impact on soil quality is usually good: soil humidity is improved; mulch is a buffer to temperature fluctuations compared to bare soil. The main drawback is the high cost of raw material purchase and implementation (not well mechanized and time-consuming), with some material more expensive and some cheaper when locally sourced, such as green waste.
Presentationof trials about the combined effect of cover cropping and other treatments
Third, Ioannis Gazoulis from The Agricultural University of Athens (Greece) presented their trials about the combined effect of cover cropping and other treatments such as mechanical weeding, false seedbed, pelargonic acid, reduced herbicide used, for winter wheat trials and vineyards (inter-row area). He provided results of impact on weed suppression, cover crop biomass, and grain yield for wheat.
Last, María Ramos García from CICYTEX (Spain) presented GOOD project living labs and trial process of cover crop seed inoculation with AMF (Arbuscular Mycorrizhal Fungi), to improve cover crop performance. AMF are locally sourced in all soils of the projects (several countries) to take advantage of their benefits: they are soil symbionts which influence soil fertility and plant nutrition (e.g. improved nutrient uptake of phosphorus), productivity, resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. Their trials are still ongoing.
Program and speakers for this webinar:
Cultural control solutions for weed and soil management
- Alternative weed control and sustainable management: Introduction about GOOD and OPER8 projects
Olga Kriezi / Alexandros Tataridas – Agricultural University of Athens / University of Coimbra’, Greece / Portugal - Living mulches for arable – weed control and soil health opportunities
Matt Smee – Organic Research Center, UK - Exogenous mulches for weed control and soil protection under vine rows
Fanny Prezman – IFV French Wine and Vine Institute, France - The combined effects of cover cropping and Agroecological Weed Management treatments on weed
flora and crop yield – wheat & grapes
Giannis Gazoulis – AUA Agricultural University of Athens, Greece - Seed inoculation to improve cover crop performance in conventional and organic farming systems
María Ramos – CICYTEX Center for scientific and technological research of Extremadura, Spain
The webinar will be held in English.
See our previous webinar
Webinar #1
Webinar #2
The second webinar, held in October 2023, continued facilitating cross-border knowledge exchange among EU partners. Titled “Cover Crops Use Across Europe,” it examined the needs, gaps, and barriers in using cover crops, agronomic strategies for their introduction in various cropping systems, and their role in weed management and ecosystem services.
It also covered strategies for integrating cover crops into winegrowing, machines for managing cover crops, and practical experiences and innovations across Europe.
The webinar attracted 100 participants, including the same target audience as the first webinar.
Webinar #3
The third webinar, held in May 2024, titled “Robots: A Robust Alternative for Weed Control?” explored robotic technology in agricultural weed management. It highlighted technological advances that led to autonomous robots capable of identifying and eliminating weeds, reducing the need for chemical herbicides. The ecological benefits, such as reduced chemical use and soil disturbance, and long-term cost-effectiveness were discussed.
The webinar featured case studies of successful robot implementations in various crops and ongoing research to enhance precision and reliability. Challenges and future developments, including AI and machine learning integration, were also covered.
Approximately 100 attendees participated.
Webinar #4
Oper8 organized it’s fourth international webinar on November 7th dedicated to drones for weed control.
123 persons attend this webinar, with a variety of profiles: researchers, advisors, regulatory specialists and students.
